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Shanna
shannalynn9064@yahoo.com
"Wills, are you all right? You sound kinda weird? *Do* you need me to come to LA?" Buffy frowned as she heard the nervous tension in her best friend's voice.
"No, no, no. Nothing weird here. Nope. Not a thing. Having a blast, except for the whole blood sucking thing. No fun in that at all. Uh-uh. No way. No how. How's life with Riley?"
"Riley's fine, and don't try to change the subject. How are you doing? Really?"
Willow sighed and tried to relax. "I'm ok. It's a . . .stressful situation, but Angel's been sweet and so has Spike."
The slayer snorted her disbelief. "Spike sweet? Lightheaded from blood loss Wills?"
"Buffy, he's really not so bad once you get to know him."
"Willow, this is the same Spike that kidnapped you and threatened to kill both you and Xander. Remember, the same Spike that came to the dorms and was going to turn you? The one who turned us against each other and almost got us all killed by Adam? Sound familiar?"
"He's changed, Buffy. He's not the Spike he was then."
"He hasn't changed, Wills, he's chipped. . .Oh. My. God! You have a thing for Spike!"
The blond sat down heavily on Giles' desk, her face pale. How did she miss this? Had she really been so wrapped up in her own little world of slayage that she'd missed something this big in her best friend's life? "How long?"
"What?" Willow was unsure of the question and didn't want to answer and give away information she may not have to yet.
"How long have you had a thing for Spike?" Buffy slapped at her watcher's hands as he reached for the bottle of scotch on the desk next to her.
"Thing? What thing?" The redhead's voice came out as I high squeak.
"Either you're sucking helium or you're trying to avoid the question. Willow, talk to me." Buffy reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, freezing in mid-pinch when she realized she was picking up her watcher's habit. Instead she ran her fingers through her long hair and gripped a handful of it tightly at the nape of her neck.
Willow knew she couldn't lie her way out of a paper bag, even over the phone, and especially to Buffy. The slayer knew her too well and would see right through any half baked lie her panicked brain could come up with at this point, so she decided to stick with half truths.
"I don't know when it happened. I mean, I always thought he was cute you know, for a demon. And he's been very . . .helpful and sweet since we've gotten here. He held me while Angel fed from me and told me everything would be all right. I can't explain it, Buffy. He's just . . .Spike! And I think I could really, really like him." 'Not to mention that you think you're already in love with him.'
"Oh, Wills. Please think about this. I mean *really* think about this. I know he's chipped and can't bite right now." Willow cringed on the other end of the line, but did nothing to correct her friend. "Remember, though, this is Spike. Yeah, he may be witty and have the whole bad boy image going for him, and I admit, although don't you dare tell him I said so, he's very attractive. . .for being one of the walking dead. What happens when the chip stops working, when he goes back to killing? How many times has he threatened us, 'As soon as I get this bloody chip out of my head I'll kill you all!'? He's a soulless demon, Wills, and I couldn't bear to find you drained by him one day when his chip goes bzzzt and shorts out."
"Buffy, I understand you're worried about me. I honestly do, but even if you don't trust him, can you at least trust me and my instincts on this one?"
"I don't think I can do that Wills. Not when it might mean your life's at stake. Oh, wow. Really bad pun. Sorry."
"S'alright, but at least use this time while we're here in LA to get used to the idea so you don't stake him on sight when we get home, ok? Please."
Buffy eyed up the bottle of scotch Giles had slipped past her guard, then watched him down another double. When she frowned, her watcher gave her a drunken sheepish grin, making a move to twist the cap back on the bottle. Instead the blond motioned for him to pour another, then promptly slipped it out of his reach and guzzled the fiery liquid, gasping as it burnt down her throat. The bespectacled man blinked owlishly at the young woman and raised the bottle, offering seconds, which she readily agreed to.
"Willow. . ."
"Please, Buffy," the witch pleaded. "For me. For your best friend. Pretty, pretty please with sugar and cream and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and hot fudge syrup on top."
The blond shuddered as the second glass of scotch made its way down into her stomach. "I'll take a couple days and think about it, but Willow, I can't promise anything. And if he does anything to hurt you, I'll shove Mr. Pointy so far up his ass, he'll be coughing up splinters."
"Thanks for the visual, Buff." Willow cringed at the prospect.
Riley poked his head in the door and smiled at his girlfriend. "How's Willow," he whispered.
The slayer rolled her eyes, catching Giles out of the corner of them downing another double. She mouthed to her former commando, "I'll tell you on patrol."
"Look, I've got to go. Riley's waiting for me to go patrolling and he has a paper to write tonight so we want to get back early. Willow, if you need anything. . .I'm talking an ear to bend, a shoulder to cry on, a vamp staked, heck, even your favorite sweater or your homework assignments, just call me and I'll be in LA so fast it will make your head spin."
The redhead smiled at her friend's honest concern. "I appreciate that Buffy, but I'm doing fine. Tell Riley I said hi, would ya?"
"Ok," the blond heaved a defeated sigh, realizing she wasn't going to get through to her friend tonight. "I've got to go, but you take care of yourself, and if you need *anything*. . ."
"I know. Give you a call and you'll be here as fast as your slayer speed can bring you."
"No, I'll be there as fast as Giles' care can bring me."
"Not bloody likely. I just had it repaired," the Brit mumbled indignantly.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Here's Giles, Will. And maybe you should lay off the computer tutorial by phone. You drove him to drink."
The redhead blushed. "Actually, I told him about Spike, too. Is he really drinking?"
"He's working on his second bottle as we speak. Willow, please be careful, and I'll talk to you in a day or two, k?"
"I will, Buffy. I promise. You be careful on patrol, too."
"We will. Bye Wills."
Giles took the phone from his slayer and waved brightly to she and her boyfriend as they made their way out of his office. "Hello?"
"Giles?" Willow listened to the slur in his voice and realized she really had driven the man to drink. "Giles, are you ok?"
"Willow? Yes," he said a bit too brightly. "How are you, dear? Enjoying LA?"
There was no talking to the man now. He was obviously three sheets to the wind and aiming for four. "I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking. Do you think I could talk to Xander for a little while? I'll call back tomorrow. . .late tomorrow to finish our conversation."
"Righto. Late tomorrow. I'll look forward to discussing your trip with you. Where is that boy? Xander?" The older man staggered to the door of his office and leaned heavily against the door frame. "Xander Harris!"
Willow gently beat her head off Angel's desk as she listened to Giles singsong Xander's voice. "Giles, remember, the conversation we had is to be kept *secret* from the others. Can you remember that for me?" It was like talking to a five year old. . .or a forty-something drunken watcher.
"I won't say a word," he stage-whispered loudly. "Strictly confidential, I assure you."
"G-man, smelling like a brewery."
Willow shook her head, hearing her bestest friend taking the phone from the former librarian.
"Willster, what the heck were you and Giles talking about that landed him swimming in a bottle of scotch?"
"I was trying to teach him how to do searches on the demonology web sites I have listed in my favorites," the witch mumbled, saying the first thing that came to mind.
In the background she heard a drunken Giles doing his best to play along with their cover story. "Blasted infernal contraptions!"
She sat back to catch up with Xander, breathing a sigh of relief that he'd bought the lie. 'How do I get myself into these situations,' she asked herself for not the first time since this all began.
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